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Activision Blizzard, Inc. was a United States–based company operating in the technology and entertainment sector, within the video game and interactive software industry.
The company specialized in developing, publishing and operating digital games and entertainment services across consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Founded in 2008 in California through the merger of Activision (founded in 1979) and Vivendi Games, owner of Blizzard Entertainment, the company emerged from a strategic effort to combine complementary portfolios and scale operations globally during a period of rapid market expansion.
The company’s portfolio included major franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft and Hearthstone.
Through King Digital Entertainment, Activision Blizzard also operated leading mobile franchises, most notably Candy Crush. Its products ranged from premium games to live-service titles, digital storefronts, subscription platforms and esports.
The operational structure included internal development studios, global hosting infrastructure, digital-marketing divisions and competitive-gaming organizations.
Activision Blizzard operated internationally across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Its organizational framework encompassed engineering teams, game-design units, data-analytics platforms, customer-support services and event-management structures.
Blizzard Entertainment held annual conventions, such as BlizzCon, reinforcing the company’s role in building strong community engagement around its franchises.
Market drivers included advances in graphics and computing technologies, growth of the mobile-gaming market, digital monetization trends, evolving regulations, global competition, consumer behavior patterns, expansion of subscription-based gaming services and shifts within the esports ecosystem.
The company continually focused on enhancing its core franchises, expanding digital engagement and adapting to new distribution models.
Activision Blizzard, Inc.’s shares were listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker ATVI, until the company was acquired by Microsoft in 2023, after which Activision Blizzard ceased to operate as an independently traded entity.
History and when Activision Blizzard, Inc. was founded
Activision Blizzard was formed in 2008 with the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games. Activision, established in 1979, was one of the first major commercial video-game publishers. Vivendi Games operated Blizzard Entertainment, known for genre-defining franchises such as Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft.
The merger sought to combine Activision’s strong presence in console gaming with Blizzard’s dominance in PC-based online games. Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, the company expanded its influence through the success of key franchises.
World of Warcraft remained a benchmark in subscription-based online gaming, while Call of Duty became one of the most profitable annual game series globally. In 2015, Activision Blizzard acquired King Digital Entertainment, significantly strengthening its mobile market position.
As the industry evolved, the company expanded into live services, competitive gaming and cross-platform ecosystems. Overwatch and its professional league exemplified Blizzard’s ambitions within structured esports, while Call of Duty introduced expanded digital offerings and annualized content cycles.
A major milestone occurred in 2023 when Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, integrating the company into its gaming division and expanding the catalog available through Xbox Game Pass. Post-acquisition, Activision Blizzard continued to operate its studios and franchises under Microsoft’s umbrella, but no longer traded independently on public markets.
Between 2020 and 2024, the company advanced development pipelines for key franchises, invested in next-generation platforms and evolved monetization strategies while navigating regulatory scrutiny and internal restructuring.
By 2024, Activision Blizzard remained a central force in global gaming, backed by some of the most influential intellectual properties in the industry.
Additional Information
The Company Activision Blizzard INC. (United States), is listed on Nasdaq with a market value of $ 74.21 Billions, having an equity of $ 20.79 Billions.
With a total of 9.200 employees, the company is listed in the sector of Technology and categorized in industry of Software.
In the last 12 months the Company had a revenue of $ 8.71 Billions, which generated a profit in the amount of $ 2.17 Billions.
As for its main indicators, the Company has a P/E ratio of 34.28, a P/BV ratio of 3.57 and in the last 12 months the dividend yield of ATVI was at 1.05%.
The Company is traded internationally through the ticker ATVI.
